Telephone-service meter.



"A. M. GRICHTO.

TELEPHONE SERVICE METER.

APPLIOATION FILED SEPT. 11, 1908 Patented May 7, 1912.

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TELEPHONE SERVICE METER. AIPLIOATIOI FILED BEPT. 1l, 1.908.

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ARTHUR M. enIcHToN, or QUINCY, ILLINOIS.

TELEPHONE-SERVICE METER.

i Specification of Letters Patent.

l Patented May 7, 1912'.

Application filed September 11, 1908. Serial No. 452,653.-

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, ARTHUR M. CRICHTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Quincy, in the count-y of Adams and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Telephone- Service Meters, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to telephone systems and particularly to mechanism for automatically measuring or recording the calls or telephone connections with a called subscriber consumed or used by a calling telephone'subscriber. y i

The object of the invent-ion is to provide a meter or recording device located in or immediately adjacent to the calling subscribers telephone which will when the called subscriber answers automatically register that call in scriber.

A further object of the invention is to provide mechanism whereby in. the event of the telephone exchange operator making a wrong connection the meter may be reset so plain view of the calling subas not to show this call with the result that l only actual useful and intended calls are recorded. i

The invention consists in a meter located in or adjacent to the calling subscribers telephone so connected electrically and mechanically to the ordinary telephone system that when the called subscriber answers the ring at his telephone by takingtlie telephone receiver off from the hook ari-electric impulse is automatically sent to the meter or recordingdevice thereby causing it to record the call.

The invention further-consists in mecha- 'iiism for preventing .the meter making more than one record of each call; that is to sav to prevent the meter acting while thetelephone receiver of the called subscriber is oft' from the hook except under the momentary impulse produced at the instant said tele-- phone receiveifis removed from the hook. And it further consists in mechanism for preventing the meter being moved while the telephone receiver of either subscriber is on the hook.

It also consists in mechanism whereby in the event of a call being improperly registered the meter may be with the-assistance of the telephone exchange operator reset to its original position.

The invention further consists in com'binations of parts and electric circuits capable of carrying out the foregoing objects, which can be easily and cheaply made and installed which are efficient in operation and are not liable to get out of order. f

It also consists in other details which will be more fully described andclaimed as the specification proceeds.

Referring to the drawings, diagrammatic circuit t-he telephone system lfully equipped'with the device of this invention.

Figure l is a operating mechanism taken substantially on the line 2 2 of Fig. 3. tional view taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2, showing the dog 42 in its `lowest or normal position. Fig. y3a is a view of part of Fig. 3 sho-wing the position whichA those parts assume when dog -12 is in the act of moving upward toward the position of Fig. 4. Fig. 4 is a similar View to Fig. .3a showing dog 42' in its highest upvvardpo'sition or atthe end of the stroke. Fig. 5 is a detail front view of the telephone subscribersv switch hook and adjacent contacts taken approxi` mately on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

It being thought that adescription of the.

parts illustrated in Fig. 1`will be made clearer and easier thereby a somewhat detailed trated in the remaining figures will be made before taking up, Fig. l. As it is manifestly necessary to illustrate the invention in some specific embodiment of the invention the preferred form has been shown, but maniillustration showingV Fig. 2 is afront view of the meter and its immediate y Fig. 3 is an end secdescription of the mechanism illus,

festly this may be varied withoutdeparting A from the invent-ion.

Referring to Fig. 2 the reader will'see `a base plate 2O in whose approximate eenvter as here illustrated, rises a suitable'support 2l carrying at its upper end a meter casing 22. In the particular case here illus- `trated this support 21 is secured to the base plate 20 by a` screw but manifestly these parts may be cast in one part if desired without departing from the invention. In

the meter casing 22 is journaled a suitable shaft 25 (F ig. 3) carrying ay suitable recording mechanism of the ordlnary type well known in the art of counting dcvices,.( comprising a plurality of numeral wheels 27, 28, 29, 30 -and'3l, one numeral on each wheel being visible through glass or other inspection plate 32 (Fig. 3) in theordiiiaigvf i marmer, the wheels being so geared together that rotating the shaft 25 a sutlicient distance .so-that' one numeral on the units wheel 31 passes over the visible space 32 the mech-v anisin will record that movement within the counter and show the ultim-ate result ot a larger number of said unitarymovement-s onthenumerals visible through the`inspection plate or dial 32 in the ordinaixy manner well known in the art of counters. It is essential for the operation' of this device that it be, as is well nknown in the counting device art, provided with a breaking device ,Y so. that when the mechanism which'should normally move the units wheel over a vdistance equal to one figure, iiiakessaid movement, 'the units wheel will move in unison therewithA exactly the right distance and no more.: T On one end of. the sh'attv 25 is` a ratchet pinion andonthe other end of the shaft is a ratchet pinion 3,6 one having its teeth pointin'gin one direction and the other lia-W .ing its'.tee,th pointing in the opposite direction. Adjacent to the wheel Strand on the side thereof shown in Fig. 3 is a tubular member 40 rising from the base plate 20 Vvsecured thereto in any suitable manner. Slidably mounted within this tubularmember 40 is a rod`i41 'carrying 011` its upper end a ratchet dog 42 pivoted to the rod at 43. Secured to the side of this tubular-I member is spring 44 which engages the `dog42 4when the parts are in the position of Fig. 3a' and holdsit in contact with the 35 `iwheel 36. lVhen however the rod 41 is in the' position of Fig. 3 or has Abeen moved upward 'by' the mechanism to be hereafter described to the position shown4 in Fig. 4 the spring 44 does not operatively engage '40 the dogand the,dog does not operatively vengage the wheel 3G with theresultl that the shaft 25 may be rotated in a counter clockwise direction or in a direction opposite to the. point of the dog 42 by the mechanism 45 which will be hereafter described, connected .50 of the shaft 25 from the location of rod 4'1 is' another tubular member 48'having MJmounted therein a slida'ble rod 50 carrying Aa og.49 engaging the teeth` of said wheel 35 in exactly the same manner that the dog 42 engages/the,teeth of wheel 36.- This dog 49 is provided. with a spring 51 corresponding with spring 44 which holds it in exactly the same way that spring 44 does 'dog 42'as described.

'60.v Below the'base' plate ,2O and inclosing' 'eachl rod 41 and -50 are enlarged tubular members 52' each containing aLietract-ile spring 63. The upper end'of each spring is rigidly secured as at 5 adjacent to es the plate 20 and .the lower d of each springds secured, as at 55, to aisomewhat distant point ofthe inclosed rod 41 or 5() as the oase may be.- When either rod 41 or 50 is in the position of Fig. 4 the eoilsot this spring are in substantial contact with each other and exert no perceptible tendency to lift the rod but wi-ien the rod is pulled down to the-position of Fig. 3 the spring 53 is stretched or placed lunder increased tension by the'switeh whenthe associated telephone receiver is placed 1Athereupon and which switch hook permits the meter actuating mechanism to operate when the receiver is removed from the switch hook and which spring tends toreturnthe rod and attached parts through the position of Fig. 3 toward "the position of Fig. 4. Rigidly attached to the bottom end of rod,I 41 is an L shaped member 57-58. Similarly rigidly attached to the lower end ot the rod 50 is an L shaped member 59 -G0. The two upright members i8 and (SQ just described are so located that "asshown they extend upward through the base platev20 and are engaged by the bar 62, pivoted at.v G3, carryingfon its opposite end the ordinary telephone receiver hook (34. This bar isprovided with a spring (55 which tends to inoveit upward when the telephone receiver is not upon the hook 64. lVhen the receiver is upon the hook the weight. ot it andl the bai" G2 moves these members 5S and 6() to their lowest possible positions with the result that the rods 41 and 5() are correspondingly depressed to their lowestpositions viz. those ot Fig. 2 against the actionof the springs 53'heretofore described.

Mounted upon the base 20 adjacent to the tubular member 40 containingthe rod 41 is apolarized electromagnet (37 having the core (S8. Pivoted to the frame oi this magnet at G9 is an L shaped armature composed ot the upright member 71 having a hori- Zontal or counteiwveight member 72 the latter being so shaped and weighted that when the parts are in normal position the upright member 71 is at an angular position with reference to and away from" the core 68. Rigidly mountedupon this"i(rniature me ber by means of a screw 74 or' other suitab e means isa latch member 75 having at its lower end a horizontal locking tooth 76 passing through a suitable s'lot 77 in the wall ofthe tubular member 4() and entering a recess 78iin the-vertical i'od 41 when said rod is in the position ot Fig. 3, this with the result that when the parts are in the position of Fig. 3, this tooth 76 locks i to it7 thereby withdrawing the tooth 76' from engagement with the'iod 41 said rod -the rod 41 in the position of said Fig.

corresponding to Fig. 3a

M plurality of magnet having -pivoted at 79 an armature composed of the members 81 and 82 and carrying a lever member 83 on whose end is a dog or tooth 84 engaging a notch or depression in the face of the vertical rod 50 said Vnotch corresponding to notch 78 in rod 41. A

The relations and proportions of all the parts heretofore described are such that when the mechanism at-the left hand half of Fig. 2 is set as in Fig. 3 and an electric current is applied to the magnet 67 thus drawing the armature member 71 to it and releasing the latch 76 from the rod 41 the spring surrounding said rod will move that rod upward and the dog 42 will be ,maintained in contact with the wheel 36 whllc passing through the position of F 1g.

3 just a sufficient length of time to move the units`wheel 31 on lthe counter one unit space distance after which the dog 42 does not as shown in Fig. 4 engage the ratchet wheel 36. correspondingly the mechanism on the right hand half of Fig. 2 is so arranged that applying a currentto the magnet 80 will momentarily move the armature member 81 toward it and release the rod 50 with the result that its cont-rolling spring 53 will move it upward, its dog 49 justI engaging-,the wheel 35 in passing its position a sufficient length of time to cause it to rotate the units-wheel 31 of the counter one unitary space and no more after which the dog 49 passes to a position corresponding to that of Fig. 4 in which it does not engage wheel 35. .The mechanism just described connected to wheel 36 moves the counting mechanism' forward and that connected to wheel 35 moves it backward and either may be worked when the other is lin the position of. Fig. 3 or that of Fig. 4.

Mounted upon a suitable support 87 and above the sidewardly extending rody 61 carried by bar 62 heretofore described are a Contact springs 88, 89, 90, 91, Springs 89 and 90 are insu- 92 and 93.,

lated by the member 94 Vand springs 91 and 92 are insulated by the member 95. When in .normal position these springs are all shaped as-shown but when the receiver 130 is taken oil from the hook 64 and the lever 62 flies up under the action of the spring 65 it engages the lowermost spring 88 and bends it upward thereby bringing each alternate two of the springs just described in contactwith 4each other through the platin'um contacts 96, 97 and 98 respectively.

Referring to the tip-calling .supervisory sulati ng `is also connected intermediate relay, an electromagnetl 100 is provided with a depending armature 102. Above this mechanism are five contact springs 105, 106, 107, `108 and 109 insulated from each other "and mounted on the frame of the relay in the ordinary manner. bers 105 and 107 there contact at 112. Between the members 106 and 107 there is a normally closed contact 113.- Between springs 107 and 109 is an in` block 114 and between springs 108 and 109 is a normally closed contaccllb. On the opposite side of the Between the memis a normally open top @fthe/sage y net 100 are three vcontact springs 118, 119

and 120. Between the spring'members 118 and 119 is a normally closed contact 121 and between the members 119 and 120 is a' normally open contact 122. lf Then the arm 104 is raised spring 119 is moved upward thus breaking contact 121 and closing contact 122, it being understood that the arm 104 -s directly mechanically connected with the spring 119, the diagram not permitting of the illustration of such mechanical connec` tion, all as will be well understood by those skilled in the art.

Taking up now the telephone system proper which is the principal' invention of this application and in which the devices heretofore described ,are used, the numeral 62 before. stated indicates the telephone hook of the calling subscriber carrying the telephone receiver-130, having mounted adjacent thereto, as heretofore described, the spring-contacts 96, 97 and 98. This subscriber is also provided with a counting mechanism fully illustrated in Figs. 1 to- 5 inclusive the magnet 67 being connected bv the wire 131 to the magnet 80 being connected by the wire 132 to the contact spring 89. The opposite terminals, of the magnets 67 and 80 are respectively connected to ground through condensers 275 and 276. A contact spring 93 is connected by the wire 132- to the ordinary contact spring 91 and the bridge. 133 and the opposite end of the bridge is connected by the wire 134 through the telephone transmitter 135 and the wire 136 to the Contact spring 88. The inter mediate corners of the bri-l e 133 are connected by the two wires .lll'g'f d 138 to the telephone receiver 130 in the ordinary manner. Contact spring 92 is connected by winei l .140 and contact spring 90 is connected by wire 141 tothe line wire 142. The wire 136 between the transmitter 135 and the contact spring 88 to the opposite liney wire 143. Across these line wires 142 and 143 are bridged ringcrs 144l and condenser 145 as usual.

The oppo-y site, end of wire 142 just' referred to is carried into the telephone exchange and is connected to vtheV tip spring 147 of the line jack. The corresponding end of wire 143 is also 'carried to the telephone exchange and is y ground-at 165. Connected to the same terfl nnnal as the wire 1621`sa11other wlre 167- y'30A which is `connected to 'the lower spring 168 ed to the pilot lamp and .night alarmvcircuit connected to the sleeve '148 of the answering jack. This jackis' also provided with a third or local contact 149. These 'jack parts are old land wellv known in the `art and forni no part of thisinventonf per se.'

v Across the line wires 142 and 143 and withln the telephone station areshuntywires 150 and 151,. The'wire 150 is'connected'as shown to the upper spring on #the ti'p side 'contact149 of the jack heretofore described.

The wire- 151 is c onnectedto the upper spring on .f the sleeve'side 159 of the cutlotf relay just'described, the lower spring on: .this side of the relay beingconnected :tt-160. fto one terminal of the coil 161 'of theli'ne'l relay.A The other side of said coil is conj nected by the wire 162 to the negativeside ,j ofthebattery 163,'jthe'opposite side of saidbattery being connected by wire 164 tov on'the line' relay. :The upper spring 169 of i .this relay is `connected bywire 170 to one side of the linellamp 172%the opposite side' ,of theline lamp being connected by -thefwire 178 to the pilot lamp'rclay wh-ich is connectin the usual manner. I

All of the mechanism just described, bearing-numerals from 144 to.174 inclusive forms affected in the operation oft-he invention.

'Theseparts have been shown and'described simply as a constituent part of-'a .telephone systeurto which this invention isapplied.' x .Each` Gperator'is provided with an an swering 180 and a calling plug 181 the .opposite ends of which are connected t-o-v gether through t-he'mechan-ism appearing at the righ-thand halt" of Fig. 1 which will.

-now be described.

The answering i the'tip contact wire-'183, the sleeve Contact wire' 184, and the local contact wire .185.

:The ltip connecting wire 183 just described forks at 187 one branch 188 being connected tothecontact'spring '1'18'of the tipvcalling supervisory relay heretofore` described, -the other branch 189 of. said wire 183 belng 1 1 connectedto the s pring105 of said' tip call- Ao,

ingsupervisory relay. The 'wire 184 herct-ofore described is forked at 191, one branch f beingconnected tothe spring 193;, the other branch being connected to the spring 195 of'th'e'resetting key: The--l'ocal'wire 185 connected to the spring 1 96 of saidresetting no part ofthis invention. per se andisnot' plug 1 80 is prbvidedjvith with three other springs 192, 194 and 197.

Above all of these 'springs is a button" 198 -so mounted that 'it- -can be depressed fr'oxn v the position shown to throw the spring 193` into contact withthe spring 192 and out of contact 'with' the spring 194 and to simultaneously throw the spring 196 out of contact withthe spring 195 and into contact with the spring 197. The spring 192'is connected by the wire 200 to a source of alternating current 201. whose `opposite side 'is connected to ground1202. The spring 194 has connected to ita Wire 204 which forks I at 205 one branch 206 passing through t-he condenser 207 to the branchlng point 208 lkey. 1 This resetting key is also 'provided .l

where it divides into the wires'209 and `310.

YVire 209 connects to one end of the coil 211 it the sleeve calling supervisory relay. Thewire 210 passes: through branching point` 213 to the closed contact'of the sleeve of the ringing key 215..,.-The other branch 216 of the wire 2 04 is connected to one side of the coil 217 4of the sleeve answering supervisory I vrelay. The opposite end of this coil 217 is connected vby the wire 218 to the battery :wire 219 leading to the battery 220. chimilarly the opposite end o the coil 211 fromv 'the wire 209 heretofore described is connected by the wire 222 to said battery wire 2 19 leading to battery 220. The opposite mend-of this battery wire 219 is connected throughresistance 224 4to the contact spring 19 17;iheretofore described. To the same terininalf of the sleeve-answering supervisory '.,rela .-217't0 which wire 218 is connected is "nnected a wire 226 the other end 'of' s connected to the 'lower spring 22T sleeve answerlng -supervisory relay.

1 Thef'p-pper spring 228 of. this relay islconnecd-.by thejwire 229tothe'top spring 230 .of the `tip answering supervisory .relay 231.

`. The. ljower s urine 232 of this -ti answerinT a 2.-

supervisory relay is connected through the answering supervisory lamp 235 and thence through the pilot and night alarm circuits common t-o the a'rtf to thesupervisory -pilot relay 286 and thence to 'the night alarm circuits n'otshown. One terminal of the tip answering supervisory relay coil 231 hereto- .fore descrlbed lsc'onnected by the wires238 and-239 to thefcontact spring 119 heretofore described and the opposite side of this coil 231 is connected bythe wire 240 to the batterywire` 241 'connectinv the positive side of the battery 220 heretofore described. The positive side ofthis battery is as usual connected to'gr'o-u'nd 242.' This battery -wire 241 heretofore described is also connected throughthe calling stlgiervisory lamp 244 to'r heretoforev described. E '1 the contact spring 10 l The terminal of the coil of the sleeve calling supervisory rela-y. to which wire 222 is also l. l connected isa wire 250'the other end .0f

which is connected to v tlie lowerl contact Veo Spring 251 of the sleevecalling supervisory relay. The upper spring 252 on the same side has connected to it the wire 253 which is connected to spring 108.

Contact spring 106 heretofore described isconnected by wire 255 to one terminal of the source Ofalternating current 201.

' The wires 238 and 239 are connected through wire 257 and condenser 258 to wire 259 which branches at 260 one branch 261 4connecting to the lower contact spring 262 of the sleeve calling supervisory relay 211..

The upper contact spring 2.63 of the same side of this relay '4 is connected by the wire 26ste one side of the coil of the tip calling supervisory relay heretofore described. The opposite end of this'last mentioned relay 1s connected to the ground at 265.

The top spring 120 heretofore described. is connected to the lower spring 118 by thewire 267. Wires 259 and 261 are connected at their junction 260 to a wire 268 which leads first to the tip side of the ringing key 215269 and thence to the listening key 270 of ordinary construction. This wire 268 makes contact at the tip side of theringing key 269 to wire 272 which leads to the tip of the calling plug 181.

The wire 210 heretofore described after passing the junction point 213 goes to the sleeve sideof the ringing key 215 and 269 and'thence'by the wire 273 to the sleeve of the calling plug 181.

In the operation of the device when the subscriber removes the receiver 130 from the hook 62 the hook is immediately spring .pressed upward as heretofore described allowing contacts 96, 97, and 98 to close. This action also releases t-he hook control from the members 58 ,and 60.so that either rod 41 or 50 maybe released by an energizing of the coil 67 or the' coil 8O as the case may be as heretofore described. 'Simultaneously with this occurrence the mechanismvoperates like many ordinarytelephones, to call the central station operator by lighting the line lamp 172 in the telephone station switch board. When this occurs the operator :,in- Sert-s the answering plug 180 in the answering jack 1417-148-119. As soon as this is done the operator is able to converse with the calling subscriber and ascertain the number required in 'exactly the ordinary manner well known in the art. Having ascertained thenumber the operator inserts the calling plug '181 in the jack which will connect her with the subscriber called. She then calls said subscriber in the ordinary manner by the ordinary mechanism. When 209-210 through the contacts 215 'and the wire 273 out through the jack and along one side of the called subscribers line. As

soon asV the called subscriber answers his =thus operating said relay 1n the manner heretofore fully described. As soon as this happens contacts 121 and 122 are thrown open at the same instant as contacts 112 and 113 are closed thus allowing alternating current to flow from the source 201 along the wire 255 through contacts 113 and thence through contact 112 through` the wire '180 and wire 183 to the tip of the answering plug on to the tip spring 14.7 of the answering jack, through the wire 142, through the the wire 131 polarized magnet 67 and thence through condenser 275 to ground. This action maglnetizes magnet 67 and draws' armature 71 toward it thereby drawing lever arm to ward it and pulling tooth 76 out of engagement with rod 411 thus allowing spring 53 to force the rod and attached tooth 42 upward through a sufficient length of travel to en gage the wheel-36 and rotate the units counter wheel 31 one unit forward thus indicating on the meter one actual call used. The

continued motion of the armature 102 toward the coil 100 forces the tip calling supervisory relay to the positions in which'v the whole system is put in normal position for conversation that is to say the alternating current momentarily passing from the source 201 of alternating current is disconnected and no longer continues to flow through the system and the alternating current is cut otf at relay 100 withf the result that the meter can not again operate until everything has been reset to normal position. Vhen the alternating current is flowing momentarily through the circuit the regular cord circuit is disconnected from the answering plug so that the alternating current can only go to the calling subscriber subscriber and thereby operate his meter when it is not intended to be operated.

Should a mistake be made by the operator and a wrong number be called in response to the calling subscribers request, with a consequent incorrect record on his meter, -he can at once advise the central station operator of his mistake who will at once press down the key 198 thereby .disconnecting the closed contacts 97, and alongV to one side of the coil of the and can not pass along the line to the called V connection between the sleeve and the local contact on the answering 'plug and at the .same time connects springs 1961 with 197 which allows the battery current from batground. The energizing of this magnet reu leases vrod 50 and attaclieddog 49 thus rota'ting wheel '35 one unitof measurement pbackward and this corrects theA previous mistake. llien the conversation has been inished and the calling subscriber hangsup hi's7receiver 130 he thereby depressesv hook 25 62 and causes it Jto-eiigage the posts 58 and 60 heretofore described thereby resetting spective latcliesfGS and 84 in which position they are ready to be operated in the manner I heretofore described.

While I have herein shown and particularly described my invention as used in connection with a manual exchange, and have also described the meter as being operated rat'the callingstation by the called station for. the purpose of increasing its count, itv is 4to be understood that I do not limit myself to manual exchanges nor to vmeters that are v operated by called stations for increasing their counts, as itis obvious there are many advantages obtainable by means of my in i vention when not restricted to use in con.

v nection with manual exchanges and to operation by called parties. Having thus describedthe invention, what "I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a telephonesystem in'coinbination "with a calling and a'caflledsubscribers tele- .phone set, a meter mechanism inthe calling subscribers vstation, means for Xtemporarily eleetrically'connecting Vthe two subscribers sets, mechanism operated by the first use of tliefcalled'subscribers 'set inanswering liis call adaptedto operate the meter-'attire calling subseriberfs stationso asl to record; said call, ineans. operatable where the aforesaid means are located'for reducingthe colintf.of

the meter furnishedv by the counter that 60 operated to indicate the number of connecl.

tions, and mechanical means for preventing 'operation ofthe meter to'j'increase its count after it has operated t "i-ncrease its count di established connection.

phone' Asyjstei'n in combination with. a calling and a called'subscribers telephone set, a meter mechanism in the calling subscribers station, and means for tempoyrarily electrically connecting the two subscribers4 sets and mechanism operated by the iirst'use of the called subscribei"s set 1n answering his call adapted to operate the i meter at the calling subscribei".s station so as to record said call and then automatically operated to mechanically cut out said meter' mechanism so that only one record can be4 made f-upon the meter by that Iuse of the' ,calledA I subscribers telephone.

3. In a telephone system in combination i with a-calling and a called subscribers telephone set, a meter mechanism Yin the calling subscribers station, means for temporarily electrically' connecting the two subscribers `sets and mechanism operated by the first use of the called subscribers setin answering his call adapted to operate the meter ,atl the calling subscribers station so asY to record said call and then automatically operated to nieclianically cut out said meter mechanism so that only one record can be made upon the meter by that use of the called "subscribers telephoneand mechanism operated by the calling subscribers telephone when restored .to idle position.v

4. In a telephonesystem in combination with calling and called subscribers telephone sets, calling and answering Jacks andcalling and answering plugstherefor; a meter at the calling station, an independent sourceof electrical energy furnishingnvave form current and connected between said plugs, a plurality of switches, a relay connected between said plugs adapted 'to` be energized.

when the called subscriber answers. his tele` phone, and said plurality of switches operated by said relay andto first momentarily send elect-ric current from said independent source to theI meter at the calling subscribers station and at the same time open the system so thatsaid current can not flow toward the called subscribers set and finally cut oft' the -wave form current and close talking circuit. i l

5. In a telephone system incomb'ination with calling and called subscribers tele-V phone sets, jacks and calling and answering plugs therefor; a meter at the 'calling stai tion, an independent source of electrical energy furnishing wave form qurrent an'd connected between saidplugs, a plurality of switches, arelay' connected between said plugs adaptedy to. be energizedqvhen thel called subscriber answers liis telephone to operate said' plurality of switches which .'irst momentarily Asend electric .current from said independentsource to tlie meter at the calling subscribers station and at the saine .time open the-'system so that said current can not How towaid the called subscribers set and finally cut-oli :he waveform current 13.0 it" and close the talking circuit, and means optelephone lines extending 'erated automatically by the calling subscriber in ,discontinuingthe use of his set to restore all of the mechanism to original operative position. Y

6. A telephone exchange system including telephone lines extending from stations to an exchange where means are provided for 'extending the telephone lines and connecting the same for conversation, a. meter at one of said stations for counting connections inade with the line extending thereto,

means associated with Ian extension of saidI latter telephone line for operating the meter to increase its count, means also associated with such extension for operating the meter counter that is operated to 'record the number of connections to reduce its count, and mechanical means for preventing operation of the meter to increase its count after it has been operated to increase its count during an established connection.

7. A telephone exchange'system including from stations to an exchange where means are provided for extending the telephone lines and connecting the saine for conversation, a meter at one ci said stations for counting connections made with the line extending thereto, means associated with an extension ot' said latter telephone line for-operating the meter to increase its count, and mechanism located atl the station where the meter is located tor mechanically preventing reoperation of the meter to increase its count during the continuation ot' the extension of the telephone line extending to the station having the meter. l

8. A telephone exchange system including telephone lines extending troni stations to an exchange where means are providedtor extending the telephone lines and connecting the same toiconversation, a meter at one ot' said stations for counting connections made with the line extending thereto, means associated with an extension of said latter telephone line for operating the meter to increase its count, there being a switch hook att'he station having the meter .and mechav,tending from subscribers nism governed' by the switch hook for mechanically preventing the operation of the nietei when the switch hook supports the assocated telephone receiver and serving to permit the operation of the meter when the switch hook is freed :trom the weight of the telephone receiver and also serving to prevent reoperation of the meter during the absence of the receivenfrom the switch hook.

9. A telephone exchange system exstations to an exchange at which exchange means are' provided for extending the, phone lines and' uniting the .same for conversation, a meter at one ot the subtelet scribers stations, mechanism for operating the meter which includes a spring, means whereby the tension of said spring is increased by the switch hook when the associated telephone receiver is placed thereupon and' which switch hook permits the meter actuating mechanism to operate when the receiver is removedv from the switch hook, electromagnetic mechanism for hold- -ingthe meter actuating mechanism when the switch hook is relieved of the weight of mechanism for operatingthe meter and held under restraint by the switch hook when supporting the receiver and permitted by the switch hook to operate the meter when the switch hook isrclieved ot the weight of the receiver, electroniagnetic mechanism for holding the meter actuating mechanism when the switch hook is relieved of the weight of the receiver, and means associated with an extension ot the telephone line extending to the station having the meter .for operating the electromagnetic mechanism to remove its restraining influence from the meter actuating mechanism to permit the meter actuating mechanism to operate the meter when the switch hook is free ot the receiver.`

11. A telephone exchange system including telephone lines extending from stations to. an exchange where means are provided for extending the telephone lines and uniting the.V same for conversation, a meter at -one of the telephone stations, means associated with an extension of the'telephone line extending to the station having the meter for effecting the operation of the` meter, said meter having three conditions of operation, one in which the meter actuating mechanism is prepared to operate the meter, another in which the meter operating mechanism is in actuating relation with the meter counter, and a third in which the meter actuating mechanism is thrown out of actuating association within the meter counter, andm'eans governed at the station having the meter for changing the meter actuating mechanism from its said third condition to its said first condition.

12. A telephone exchange system including telephone lines extending from stations to' an exchange, Where means are' provided for extending thetelephone lines and unitling 'they' same :for conversation, a meter at l oneof the ltelephone stations, means asso.

`meter for -e eating the operation o' ciated with an extension of the telephone line extendin to thestation havin the tie meter, said meter having threeconditiosoi operati-on, one in which: the meter actuating r 1.0

mechanismis prepared to operate the meter,

. another in; which the meter' operating mechanism-is in actuating relationwith the meterl counter,- and La third in which` theA Ametier actuatingl mechanism is thrown out 

